Mark Harbin charged in murder of Gentiles Williamson

Safiya Merchant — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:36:25 -0600

Mark Harbin / Photo from Chicago Police

A parolee was ordered held on $600,000 bond Wednesday, accused in an East Garfield Park shooting in November in which a man was fatally shot in front of his father.

Gentiles Williamson was shot about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30, after two armed men confronted him and his father as they got into a car near their home in the 3100 block of West Arthington Street, prosecutors claim.

Mark Harbin allegedly brandished a gun at the father, who was in the driver’s seat, while the other armed suspect approached Williams on the passenger’s side of the car, Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Dibler said during a bond hearing Wednesday.

Harbin, 23, of the 6600 block of South Perry Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said.

The second suspect, who has not yet been arrested, said something to Williamson before firing three shots at him, Dibler said.

The 27-year-old suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A video recording captured Harbin and the other suspect fleeing in a car registered to Harbin’s girlfriend, Dibler said.

Harbin was on parole at the time of the attack, serving a four-year sentence from a 2012 conviction for possessing a stolen motor vehicle, Dibler said. During a parole check Nov. 9, authorities allegedly found a 9mm handgun in his bedroom.

Ballistics test later determined the gun was the same one used to fatally shoot Williamson, Dibler said. Harbin was also positively identified in a photo array lineup.

Judge Israel Desierto ordered Harbin held on $600,000 bond Wednesday.

He will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing Dec. 30, Simonton said.

--Sun-Times Media Wire

Mark Harbin | Homicide Watch Chicago

Mark Harbin charged in murder of Gentiles Williamson